Pre-kindergarten teachers, also known as preschool teachers, provide care and education for children before they enter kindergarten. The good news for anyone considering a career as a pre-kindergarten teacher is that the job outlook for this occupation is good, as of 2012. Review the details of this expected growth as you plan your career.

Market Changes

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the population of children in the pre-kindergarten age range, ages 3 to 5, is expected to increase between 2010 and 2020. As a result of these changes, an increase in demand is expected for pre-kindergarten teachers. As of 2010, there were 456,800 pre-kindergarten teachers in the United States. By 2020, this is expected to increase to 570,400 positions. This amounts to an increase of 113,600 jobs -- or 25 percent -- in a 10-year period.

Salary

Pre-kindergarten teachers earned a median wage of $25,700 a year, as of 2010, according to the bureau. This is less than the median wage of $33,840 a year for all occupations. Pre-kindergarten teachers working in child care services earned a median salary of $23,520 a year, as of 2010, and those working for religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations earned a median salary of $25,200 a year. Pre-kindergarten teachers working for schools earned an above average median wage of $39,470, as of 2010.

Comparison

The expected job growth of 25 percent is higher than the 14 percent expected growth for all occupations between 2010 and 2020. It is also 10 percentage points higher than the 15 percent growth that is anticipated for people working in education, training and library occupations -- which would include other teachers. Finally, it's 8 percentage points higher than the 17 percent expected growth in demand for kindergarten and elementary teachers over the same period.

Industries

The industries employing the most pre-kindergarten teachers are child day-care services; religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations; and state and private schools. The growth rate for pre-kindergarten teachers in the child day-care services industry is expected to be 30 percent between 2010 and 2020. The growth rate among religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations is expected to be 17 percent during the same period. During the same period, the number of pre-kindergarten teachers in public and private schools is expected to increase by 12 percent.